In a cramped room, a group of old men clutching their graying beards sat in chairs surrounding Erika. They held their arms and stared at her with solemn expressions.
One of the elderly mages, dressed in a white cloak, was the first to ask a question. “So you’re saying you can definitely read these characters? This runic circle says ‘Edina’?”
Hearing the old man’s question, Erika gave a polite nod. “Yes. Why? Is there a problem?”
“Edina! It really is Edina! Then can you read the writing on this? On this brick?” The old man immediately handed over a brick printed with square characters that looked like a factory trademark. It appeared to have been applied with a stamp. Erika could indeed understand the text written on it. It said…
“It says ‘Rengar’.”
**[You have taken the second step toward the source of the world’s mysteries!]**
**[Job Experience Points for Mage: +50]**
**[Astonishing talent!]**
**[Class: Mage level has increased. Mage Lv. 1 -> Lv. 2]**
**[You are now a novice Mage!]**
‘I have no idea why reading comprehension gives experience points, but surprisingly, my Mage level actually went up.’
At the same time, a sensation like a faint bio-electric current spread from her fingertips to the soles of her feet. While she could not describe the feeling exactly, it was not unpleasant.
Shifting her gaze from the floating text, she saw the old-timers whispering among themselves.
“My goodness, it actually says Rengar.”
“Indeed. No wonder magic didn’t work on him; we had it wrong from the start!”
“Knowing the ‘Name’ is vital. The barrier patrollers will certainly be interested in this.”
The old men surrounded the young girl, making sounds like “Oh my” and “Tsk tsk.” This scene was hardly enjoyable, so Erika frowned in protest.
“What exactly is happening? Could someone please explain what’s going on? I believe I have the right to a reasonable explanation.”
An elder wearing a brown cloak and a classic pointed hat stepped forward from the crowd. “Mistress Erika Angelina, Secretary of Noelle, this is the first time we have encountered such a thing, so we are unsure how to explain it… These characters, which should have been lost and unreadable, are a language belonging solely to the dead. It is known as Death Speech.”
“Does ‘Death Speech’ refer to an extinct language?”
“You could say that. They are so ancient and long-lost that they have become the script of the deceased—that is, the Undead.”
‘The Undead?’ The image of Miona, the young lady of the Draco family she had met a few days ago, and her Undead guards surfaced in Erika’s mind.
At that time, the Undead lich by her side had said something. Since Erika could not understand it, she had assumed it was just an incantation. But looking at it now, that seemed to be what the old mage called Death Speech.
“Originally, this was a script that the living could not read, nor should they attempt to decipher.”
‘To see the script of the dead… isn’t that a common trope in horror movies? Reading things you shouldn’t, seeing things you shouldn’t see.’
‘Could I be under some kind of curse?’
Struggling to shake off her fear and unease, the girl asked the old mages, “Why can I read it? If I do… what will happen?”
“We would like to know that as well! We, the association of fifth-rank Great Sorcerers—the Rigtaya Mountaineering Club—are considering conducting research on this matter with you, Mistress Erika Angelina!”
“Stop! I didn’t come here to join a research society. I want to become a student of the Ark.”
“We can grant you special admission. We are the mountaineering club, but we are also the Ark Council. However, you must join us and climb the holy mountain of Rigtaya—Mount Herold—once a week.”
“Climb the holy mountain? Why?”
‘Do mages obtain some kind of energy by climbing the holy mountain? Does the mountain hide some secret?’
“Fitness! Diving into books in a research lab all day will ruin your body. For us mages, the greatest issue is health. That is why we double as a mountaineering club.”
“I see.”
‘Oh, then I’m not climbing.’
However, being able to enroll through special admission was a good proposal. Her current physical strength and magical level were far from reaching the entry threshold. She never expected that reading some strange characters would grant her eligibility to enter the academy; it truly was a blessing in disguise.
The man in the brown cloak spoke again. “Mistress Erika, perhaps you possess a pair of special eyes. Eyes that see more clearly and truly than ordinary people. Such a case is rare, but not unheard of.”
The blue-robed elder, who had been listening quietly beside him, stroked his beard. “This is the first time since the Saintess, isn’t it? After the Saintess’s eyes became like that, I thought the research would surely end there. Perhaps this is divine guidance.”
‘When they mention the Saintess, they must mean Gahlia.’
Just then, a black-robed elder who had remained silent suddenly let out a loud, “Ahem—!”
Immediately, the old men who had been chattering and discussing amongst themselves fell silent.
“Master Pelto, do you have something to say as well?”
“Erika Angelina! Parents! Family! Sisters! Murder! Mating!”
Erika: ‘…?’
While the girl struggled to understand, the brown-robed mage explained.
“Mistress Erika, he is asking if you have parents, family, or sisters.”
“But I heard the words ‘murder’ and ‘mating’?”
“He just said those randomly. Master Pelto has a bit of a condition. Anyway, do you have family or siblings?”
She also wanted to know if she had family or other blood relatives.
“No. I am an Angelina raised by the Church.” As she spoke, Erika’s gaze was fixed on the man named Pelto.
“Hehe.” The black-robed mage’s gaze was scattered, and drool leaked from the corner of his mouth, looking like an addict consumed by drugs. ‘Is he senile? Talking about murder and mating… it’s hard to imagine what kind of unhealthy things this guy is thinking about.’
Yet, his hair was pitch black, and his face appeared to be the youngest among the group.
One old man cleared his throat and explained the situation in a low voice. “When Master Pelto reached the sixth rank, he moved too close to the abyss of truth. Consequently, he is occasionally delirious. But he is not a bad person. On the contrary, he is the most outstanding mage among us.”
“Does the stronger one’s magic get, the easier it is for mental problems to occur?”
“Roughly so. Attempting to carry truth that is difficult to contain within a human body is like using a small boat to transport a mountain. Collapse is the norm.”
“Oh.”
“I believe you have already noticed. I heard you are by the side of a seventh-rank Witch every day.”
The image of that beautiful, black-haired, ice-cold girl surfaced in Erika’s mind. ‘So that’s how it is?’
Evelyn seemed a bit abnormal… Was it because her magical talent was too high, and the information in her brain was so vast and explosive that it messed with her mind?
‘As I thought, she’s a psycho— *cough*—as I thought, her mental state has issues?’
People said that when Evelyn was still an ignorant princess, she was as simple and innocent as a Disney princess. However, after ascending the throne, along with the rapid progress of her magical strength, her personality took a sharp turn for the worse.
Not to mention the bloodbath of the succession and the loss of her family, which further exacerbated the situation.
In any case, perhaps she could find a way here to bring Evelyn back to those innocent girlhood days.
Filled with her own longing, Erika said, “Then, could you tell me how to control those disordered laws? If there is a fee, I will pay it.”
“We are also researching that. Furthermore, Mistress Erika Angelina, you can help us. Your deciphering of those characters just now is essentially connected to our research.”
‘The method of deciphering these ancient texts actually shares common ground with magic and the research on Evelyn’s mental treatment?’
*Cough.*
“Ahem.”
Before the girl could ask for further explanation, she felt these elderly scholars exchange glances. Although Erika was only a novice in the field of magic, she was someone who had survived the “asura field” of the royal court.
Erika could sense they were rapidly communicating about “whether it is appropriate to discuss this topic now.”
**[Calm situational judgment! Gained experience through the talent ‘Calm Thinking’. All Job Experience Points +5]**
‘I’m quite something.’
At this point, a big-nosed mage finally spoke as if having made a decision. “Those characters just now were the legacy of King Solomon.”
“You mean the Demon King of Noelle.”
“Exactly. You are a citizen of Noelle, so you should know better than anyone. Those characters are products that transcend human reason and touch upon divine wisdom.”
Beside him, a blue-robed mage trimming his nails added, “If we decipher the legacy of the only person to reach the tenth rank, we will naturally understand how to integrate truth into a human vessel.”
The white-robed mage took over the conversation. “And we are also Sages known as High Lords. Living for over 120 years was not a waste of time. Mistress Erika Angelina, we can see through the reason you came to the Ark.”
“…I am all ears.”
“Queen Evelyn is already a complete vessel. To be honest, our order has nothing more to teach her. If there is anything left, it is probably this—”
*Thump, thump.* The white-robed elder tapped his own head, then poked his withered chest with his thumb.
“It is likely this: the wisdom and purity of the human heart. You want to teach these to the Queen, so that she may become a wise and benevolent ruler, don’t you?”
“…”
As the saying goes, a person whose inner thoughts are pierced will fall silent.
Erika felt as if she had fallen into a bog because her seemingly hidden plan had been instantly exposed. She had no choice but to stop speaking.
‘He truly is an old man who calls himself a Sage.’
The white-robed Sage continued, “Lady Erika, I do not believe you are an evil person as the worldly rumors suggest. On the contrary, we express our respect to you.”
‘Respect?’ This was the first time she had heard such a thing to her face.
Erika actually felt a bit like she was sitting on needles, appearing quite embarrassed. “To have the Great Sages express respect for me… that is truly too high a praise.”
“To bring that Queen to this place is something no one could have imagined, and even if they had, they would have found it difficult to put into action. Yet, you ultimately did it. It is likely that only you could have done it.”
“Yes. Even though Queen Evelyn receives an invitation from our academy every year, she has never spared it a single glance, let alone enrolled.”
“I am even curious how you brought her here.”
“Hate!”
“Even Pelto is praising you as remarkable.”
The four elders in black, white, blue, and brown robes—all dressed differently—were praising and encouraging the girl in unison. It was as if they were telling her and affirming her: everything you have done so far is right.
Hearing these words, Erika’s heart seemed to relax slightly.
“Wooo—!”
Suddenly, the elderly mage wearing the blue pointed hat handed Erika something—it was the cloak worn by the female students of the Ark, along with a white and brown school uniform blouse and a short skirt.
“It should fit well. After all, fairies and elves both have elegant figures. We, the Council, sincerely welcome the enrollment of you and Queen Evelyn!”
‘So why do you have a female student’s outfit?’
Despite going through many twists and turns, she had successfully become a student of the Ark!